Chico State narrowly misses softball sweep

McKINLEYVILLE – Chico State University's bats came alive on a soggy Sunday, but a late rally helped host Humboldt State salvage a doubleheader split in softball.

Humboldt State scored five runs in the next-to-last inning of the last game to avert a sweep at McKinleyville High School.

After being swept Saturday, Chico State came alive with 16 runs and 16 hits, including four home runs, in the twinbill. Chico State (7-10 overall, 5-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association) won the first game 8-7 before falling 11-8 in the second. Humboldt State improved to 18-5 overall and 8-4 in the CCAA.

Of the Wildcats' 16 hits Sunday, seven went for extra bases. Alli Cook and Amanda Cordeiro had three hits apiece over the two games. Emily McEnaney, Desiree Gonzalez and Kelli Keefe each picked up two.

Humboldt State led the first game 5-2 when the Wildcats came roaring back to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning on one swing by Alex Molina. She blasted a grand slam to plate Scotie Walker, Tori Zimmermann and Brynn Lesovsky to put Chico State in front 6-5. Humboldt answered with a two-run homer by Dani Randall in the bottom of the sixth.

Chico State, down to its final three outs, rallied again. With Cook aboard, Gonzalez launched her first homer of the year over the center field fence, giving the 'Cats the lead. Humboldt got the potential tying run aboard with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Molina got both Alison McKibbon and Andrea Chavez to fly out to end it, giving the Wildcats the 8-7 victory.

Molina gutted out the complete game victory — her seventh of the season — to improve to 4-4 on the year.

In the nightcap, Chico State's Sammi Ridgway led off the contest with a home run to left, and Cordeiro added a solo shot in the top of the second inning put Chico State up 2-0.

Chico State returns home next weekend to take on Cal State Dominguez Hills in a four-game series beginning with a noon doubleheader Friday.

College golf

PIONEER SHOOTOUT >> The Chico State women's golf team was in the driver's seat to record its first tournament win of the spring and third of the season Sunday in Vallejo. The Wildcats went into the final round of the 36-hole event with a four-shot lead, but a 37-over-par 325 Sunday wasn't enough to capture the tourney's top spot. The 'Cats finished in second place, 11 strokes back of the host school, Cal State East Bay.

Because of high winds that suspended play Saturday at Vallejo's Hiddenbrooke Golf Club, the Wildcats weren't declared first-round leaders until after all 12 competing teams finished play early Sunday, prior to the scheduled second round. Despite being overtaken Sunday by East Bay, Chico State recorded a top three finish for the fourth time in its five 2013-14 tournament events.

Four of the five Wildcat golfers placed in the top 15 on the Pioneer Shootout's individual leaderboard. Spencer Downey, following up Saturday's 77 with an 80 on Sunday, notched her first top 10 finish as a Wildcat. She tied for fourth.

Abbey McGrew shot an 81 Sunday and Dani O'Keefe fired an 84 to finish in a tie for 13th place at 164. Heather Fegley rounded out the Wildcat scorecard, placing in a tie for 29th in the 64-player field.

Linda Brown of Cal State East Bay won individual medalist honors with a two-round score of 2-over par 146.

The Wildcats return to action Mar. 10-11, hosting the Chico State InterWest Invitational at Canyon Oaks Country Club.